The Gods of the Neokoroi - Hecate
Source: Thomas Bulfinch, The Age of Fable (Philadelphia: Henry altemus Company, 1897)163 - Image copyright 2010 University of South Florida
This page maintained by Pythia Hecateira (Elizabeth)
Blessings:
Hekate is a guide and a guardian. She protects those who call upon Her, especially from murder, magic, theft, the dangers of childbirth, and the hardships of life on the road. She is also a mediating figure, who intercedes on our behalf with the other Gods. She bestows many gifts upon those who honor Her, including magical abilities and prosperity.
Epithets:
Aidônaia (Lady of the Underworld)
Anassa eneroi (Queen of those Below, Queen of the Dead)
Angelos (Messenger)
Antaia (the One in Front)
Antania (Enemy of mankind or Sender of Nocturnal Dreams)
Atalos (Tender, Delicate)
Brimo (Angry One)
Dadophoros (Torch bearer)
Despoina (Lady)
Epiphanestate Thea (Most Manifest Goddess)
Enodia (Of the Roads, Of the Paths)
Erodia (Gatekeeper)
Khthonia/Chthonian (Underworld, Of The Earth)
Kleidouchos (Keeper of the Keys)
Kleidophoros (Key Bearer)
Koure mounogenes (Only Begotten Maiden)
Krataiis (Strong One)
Kurotrophos (Protector of Children)
Liparokrêdemnos (Bright-coiffed, With Bright Headband)
Megiste (Greatest)
Monogenes (Only Child)
Nyktipolos (Night Wandering)
Nykipolos Khthonie (Night Wanderer of the Underworld)
Perseis (Destroyer)
Phosphoros (the light-bringer)
Propolos (Guide, Attendant Who Leads)
Propylaia (the Guardian, The One Before the Gate)
Prothuraea (Before the Door)
Skylakagetis (Leader of the Dogs)
Soteira (Saviour)
Trevia/Trivia/Trioditis (Of The Three Ways, Of the Three Roads)
Tricephalus (The Three-Headed)
Trimorphis (Three Formed, Three Bodied)
Trioditis (Of the Crossroads)
Zerynthia (Of Mt Zerynthia)
Other Epithets:
The Distant One
Queen of Night
Night Mother
Queen of the Ghosts
Queen of the Witches
Mother of Witches
Mistress of Magic
Most Lovely One
Prytania The Invincible Queen Of The Dead
Symbols:
torches, keys, rope, knife, dogs, snakes, knife
Animal(s):
dogs, owls, crows, snakes, frogs, the toad (conception), snakes (guardian and underworld), dogs (guarding and hunting)
Offerings and Sacrifices:
yew, cypress, hazel, black poplar, willow, black dogs, black bulls, black lambs, myrrh, civet, camphor, aloe, menstrual blood, red mullet, bread, eggs, cheese, honey, garlic, apples, figs, pomegranate
Primary Cult Center(s):
Lagina, Miletus, Argos, Eleusis, Aigina
Festivals:
Hecatesia (celebrated on different dates - August 13 or 16, November 16)
Dark/New Moon - last day of the lunar month
Hekate's Night - November 16th
Day of Hekate at the Crossroads (October 31 or November 30)
The last day of the calendar month
December 31 - Roman
Ways to honor:
Keep sacred the Deipnon and Her festivals. Study magic and prophecy, particularly theurgy, as she is the patron of that art. Go for walks at night, or among strange places. Aid fellow travelers and strangers, especially if they have dogs. (Or are wild dogs!) Appreciate the weird and uncanny.
For more information:
Apollodorus' Library 1.6.2
Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica 3.477-478, 3.528-530, 3.1035-1041, 3.1207-1224, 4.827-829
Chaldaean Oracles
Euripides' Ion 1049
Euripides' Phoenician Women 109-110
Hesiod's Theogony 409-452
Homeric Hymn to Demeter 2.25-62, 2.438-440
Lucian's Pharsalia 4.839-40
Vergil's Aeneid 4.511, 4609-610, 6.247
Papyri Graeci Magicae 36.187-210
Pausanias' Descriptions of Greece 1.43.1, 2.30.2
Theocritus' Idylls 2
Books:
Hekate in Early Greek Religion by Robert von Rudloff
Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate's Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature by Sarah Iles Johnston
Bearing Torches, A Devotional Anthology for Hekate - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Hekate, Keys to the Crossroads Edited by Sorita D'Este
Hekate, Liminal Rites by Sorita d'Este & David Rankine
Hecate: Death, Transition & Spiritual Mastery by Jade Sol Luna
Hecate II, The Awakening of Hydra by Jade Sol Luna
Crossroads by Greg Crowfoot
Music:
Hecate - Hecate's Wheel
Hecate - Ruth Barrett
Hecate - Wendy Rule
Hecate Phantasmagoria - Jade Sol Luna
Queen of the Crossroads - Jade Sol Luna
Silver Moon, Black Shy - Jade Sol Luna
Links
www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Hekate.html
www.homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Hecate.html
www.inanna.virtualave.net/hekate.html
www.hekate.timerift.net/hecate.htm
www.hermeticfellowship.org/OrphicHymnHekate.html
Rituals
A Simple Way to Honor Hekate by Pythia Hecateira